Sly as a Fox

This drawing shows a common red fox. Foxes have a reputation of being cunning, or sly. Now scientists think they have an uncanny ability to use Earth’s magnetic field to hunt their prey.

Amazing but True!

Earth has a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet. Many animals can detect the direction of Earth’s magnetic field and use it for migration or other purposes.

Foxes can detect the direction of Earth’s magnetic field like many other animals. However, they may also have the amazing ability to use Earth’s magnetic field to detect distance as well as direction. The fox is the first animal thought to have this ability.

Watch this short but impressive video to see how a fox locates and captures its prey: